I'll be a newbie to vegetable gardening in planters at 7,000', and figure I've got 2½ months to browse this forum and hopefully climb the learning curve. My late dad was an early organic gardener in NW Iowa beginning in the 1930s and his produce was so outstanding I never really tried growing vegetables in NE Florida where I lived from 1970 to 2005. Last summer at about 5,500' on Albuquerque's West Mesa/Petroglyph I was moderately successful with some tomatoes and peppers, but have now moved into my retirement home in the Riviera de Sandia, Cedar Crest NM at about 7,000'. I'm 74, retired at age 55, and my main activities are hiking in the mountains, communing with nature, blogging and participating in an online St. Augustine FL forum, and hopefully beginning about May 15th 2009, vegetable gardening. I'll browse awhile now.
Welcome to the stew from east Texas. So glad you joined our great group. It IS habit forming, so jump right in!
Hi there and welcome to GardenStew from an organic gardener in Scotland. If you need any help with your vegetable gardening then you've definately joined the best forums for advice. We're a friendly bunch here so I hope you'll make your stay with us a long one. :-D
Welcome! Until this year I am just a flower gardner, but I am starting a kitchen garden this spring... sounds like you could teach me a thing or two! Nice to meet you!
Welcome, bieramar, from the wet and windy coast of Norway. I can't imagine how you find time for all your activities. Well done! Hop in and make yourself at home, the Stew is a good place to be.
Thank you all for the welcome. I've found lots of good advice browsing here, and come May will be planting. Water is no problem - free flowing springs and acequias are documented in Coronado's journals from his visit in 1540 ACE, with evidence/artifacts of farming back to at least 1100 ACE. Composting and most fruits/berries are out because of bears, which will be coming out of their winter torpor state about the time I plant the veggies and tomatoes. I do have two sheds with electricity, windows and skylights and may (or may not!) attempt growing from seeds earlier than May. I'm not even a novice gardener yet - maybe a postulant!
Welcome to GardenStew bieramar, you sound like quite a busy person I hope you can make time to join us when you can. Great bunch of folks here!
